diff --git a/.env b/.env
index 09ebf1e2..72fa1ace 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 # solves issues with stylis-plugin-rtl : https://github.com/styled-components/stylis-plugin-rtl/issues/35#issuecomment-1550877823
-GENERATE_SOURCEMAP=false
\ No newline at end of file
+GENERATE_SOURCEMAP=false
+VITE_API_URI=https://open-bus-stride-api.hasadna.org.il/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/api/agencyList.ts b/src/api/agencyList.ts
index 9a0c1a93..946c8d8b 100644
--- a/src/api/agencyList.ts
+++ b/src/api/agencyList.ts
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ export interface Agency {
   agency_name: string // example - "אלקטרה אפיקים"
 }
 
-let json: Promise<Agency[]>
+let json: Agency[]
 
 export default async function getAgencyList(): Promise<Agency[]> {
   if (!json) {
-    json = fetch('https://open-bus-stride-api.hasadna.org.il/gtfs_agencies/list').then((response) =>
-      response.json(),
-    )
+    const response = await fetch(`${import.meta.env.VITE_API_URI}gtfs_agencies/list`)
+    json = await response.json()
   }
+
   return json
 }
diff --git a/src/api/apiConfig.ts b/src/api/apiConfig.ts
index 04ab1981..a0d6da7b 100644
--- a/src/api/apiConfig.ts
+++ b/src/api/apiConfig.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Configuration } from 'open-bus-stride-client'
 
 //const BASE_PATH = 'http://localhost:3000/api'
-export const BASE_PATH = 'https://open-bus-stride-api.hasadna.org.il'
+export const BASE_PATH = import.meta.env.VITE_API_URI
 export const API_CONFIG = new Configuration({ basePath: BASE_PATH })
 
 export const MAX_HITS_COUNT = 16